Gmmat,
Ive heard that from people down in my part of Wi when baiting was legal due to all the cornfields around. Now for northern Wi from what I have been told that baiting helps a lot. I have not tried it yet per example I have posted in this forum. The only baiting I can say that did happen was the doe that came through last fall and then big boy followed 10 minutes later. She brought him right in for me during the rut on Nov 3rd.
I can only tell you of MY experiences. I was shooting 3D with a guy last night that mentioned his "corn pile" every other sentence. Even here (where it's legal)....it still takes me aback. I simply feel that I UP my chances of taking deer when I hunt nowhere near the "bait".
I feed the deer all year (both food plot, now, AND a feeder that I have set up). I had a stand, last year, about 50 yds from the feeder.....that I hunted twice. I had a stand set up for my son (nearer to thefeeder)that I hunted 0 times. The two times Ihunted from the 50 yd stand......YES....I saw deer. Big deal.....I see deer all the time. I can only tell you that the deer I see near the feeder are on high alert. The deer I see elsewhere, aren't. They're reacting "normally". I made the decision, last year, to NOT hunt over the bait.....and I took my first 5 bow deer from that point forward.
I won't have a stand anywhere near the feeder, this season. I'm trying to UP my odds.